Electronic mirror circuit and outside mirror assembly with such a circuit

ABSTRACT

An electronic mirror circuit for the activation of mirrors for motor vehicles, where the mirrors are positioned adjusted by electric motors. The circuit is made of an operational component having a plurality of circuits for conducting currents. Also, a load control unit is correspondingly connected with the current conducting circuits. A plurality of load circuits are in communication with the load control unit. Each of the load circuits corresponds with a given one of the current conducting circuits. The load circuits are activated by the current conducting circuits. Also provided is an electrical coupling device for connecting the load circuits to the mirrors via a wire distribution tree.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The invention concerns an electronic mirror circuit for the activation of outside mirrors, the adjustments of which are powered by electric motors. The mirrors are especially designed for motor vehicles, especially for commercial vehicles. The invention further concerns an outside mirror with such an electronic mirror circuit.

[0002] In motor vehicles, especially in commercial vehicles as well as in personal automobiles, more and more electrically activated elements are found. These elements include, for instance, central locking systems, power windows, adjustable outer mirrors, sun roof components, and the like. DE 41 28 306 A1 discloses an operational apparatus for peripheral devices and positional drives, especially for the activation and the positional displacement of outside rearview mirrors. For the individual functions and positional drives in the mirrors, switches or sensor keys are provided in the operational apparatus. Upon the activation of the respective sensor keys in a sending unit, corresponding digital control signals are produced which are conducted by means of a bus line to the respective mirror. At that point the control signals are again converted into corresponding analog signals, by means of which, the respective functions or the respective positional drive in the corresponding mirror are activated. In this way, in and on a small and compact operational apparatus, a plurality of circuits can be encapsulated which are easily maintained since the individual circuits possess no mechanical parts. However, the disadvantage is that operational apparatuses of this kind can only be employed if the respective vehicle is equipped with a corresponding control bus system.

OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Therefore, it is the purpose of the present invention to make available an electronic mirror circuit which can be installed in vehicles with conventional wiring. Further, it is the purpose of the present invention to create an outside mirror for motor vehicles with such a mirror circuit.

[0004] The achievement of these purposes is accomplished by the features of the invention. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

[0005] Because of the fact that a plurality of circuits handling current low in both voltage and amperage (hereafter referred to as weak current) serve sensing keys or membrane keyboards and is connected with a multitude of load-switches, it is possible to place a great many circuits and operational elements in a relatively tightly compressed space. By means of a coupling device the individual load switches are connected with a conventional distribution tree. By this means, it becomes possible to install the electronic mirror circuit in motor vehicles with conventional wiring without additional expense.

[0006] In accord with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in the operational component an optical and/or acoustic display and/or alarm is provided which makes known the activation of a specific weak current circuit. This is of particular advantage in the case of sensor keys or membrane keyboards, since otherwise the IN or OUT positions of the respective circuit are not recognizable.

[0007] In accord with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, all components of the electronic mirror circuit are placed in a common housing whereby the operational component, i.e. the operational elements, are accessible from the front side, and the electronic coupling arrangement can be accessed from another side, preferably the rear side. In this way the installation is simplified in the invented electronic mirror circuit in a vehicle having conventional wiring.

[0008] In accord with a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the case of the electrical coupling apparatus a standard plug-in device is available by means of which the conventional analog circuit on the distribution tree can be connected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The remaining features and advantages of the invention are made evident in the following description with the help of the drawings of an example embodiment. There is shown in:

[0010]FIG. 1 a block circuit diagram of an example embodiment, and

[0011]FIG. 2 the front view of the operational component of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Reference will now be made to the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the drawings. The example is provided by way of explanation of the invention and is not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield yet a third embodiment. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations.

[0013]FIG. 1 shows, as an example, an embodiment of the electronic circuit in accord with the present invention with an operational component 2 having sensors, by means of which a plurality of weak current circuits in the form of membrane keys 4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i can be activated. By means of a load control unit 6, the weak currents 4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i are respectively assigned to load circuits 8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i. The outputs of the load circuits 8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i are connected to their respective devices in the mirror by means of an electrical coupling device in the form of a standard plug-in connector 10 which is in communication with electrical lines in a wire distribution tree 12. By means of a display device 14, which comprises a plurality of LEDs 16-1, 16-2, . . . , 16-i, the activation of individual circuits and their operational condition is optically displayed.

[0014] In addition, the activation of individual circuits 4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i can also be announced by an acoustic signal device 14 a. The current supply of the electronic mirror circuit is the same as the current supply of the respective motor vehicle.

[0015]FIG. 2 shows, in a plan view, an embodiment in which a plurality of weak current circuits 4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i is made available for various functions. Keys on the operational component 2 allow for the circuit to be activated. A weak current circuit, controlled by a toggle switch 20 serves for the positioning and tilting of the respective outside mirror in one plane. Further, two mirror-choice buttons 22, i.e., one for the left mirror 22 on the driver's side, and one for the right mirror 24 on the passenger side are provided. By means of these choice buttons, either the left or the right mirror is subject to adjustment. Besides the two mirror-choice buttons 22 and 24, are provided on the left and right sides, respectively four LED elements 26. By means of these LED elements the positioning of the respective mirror is visibly displayed. Below the two mirror-choice buttons 22 and 24 is placed a mirror heating switch 28 by which the mirror heating in the two outside mirrors can be activated. The keys on the operational component 2 can be membrane pressure keys.

[0016] Above the mirror heating switch 28 is placed a “Heating” LED element 30, which becomes illuminated when the mirror heating has been activated by means of the mirror heating switch 28.

[0017] The electronic mirror circuit can be used to drive an electric motor driven positioning unit 32 for the positioning of at least one mirror pane 34 in a rearview mirror housing 36. The operational component 2, the load control unit 6, and the plurality of load cirucits 8-1 . . . 8-i may be placed in a common housing 38, with the operational unit on a front side and the electrical coupling device 10 on an outer side of the housing, so that the housing may be installed in an instrument panel or a door of a vehicle.

[0018] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

Claimed is:
 1. An electronic mirror circuit for the activation of outside mirrors for motor vehicles, particularly for commercial vehicles, which mirrors are position-adjusted by electric motors, said circuit possessing an operative component (2) with a plurality of circuits (4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i; 20, 22, 24, 28) for currents of low voltage and amperage (hereinafter referred to as weak currents), a load control unit (6) which is correspondingly connected with the weak current circuits (4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i; 20, 22, 24, 28), a plurality of load circuits (8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i) which are in communication with the load control unit (6), by which they correspond with the respective individual weak current circuits (4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i; 20, 22, 24, 28), wherein the load circuits (8-1, 8-2,. . . , 8-i) by means of the respectively assigned weak current circuits (4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-i; 20, 22, 24, 28) and the interposed load control unit (6) are activated, and an electrical coupling device (10) for the connection of the load circuits (8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i) with a conventional wire distribution tree (12) of the outside mirrors.
 2. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with claim 1, therein characterized, in that one of the weak current and load circuits (28) serves for the activation of mirror heating.
 3. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with claim 1 or 2, characterized by a display device (14) for the production of a optical and/or an acoustic signal to designate the activation of a weak current circuit (4-1, 4-2,. . . , 4-i; 20, 22, 24, 28) and of a thereto respective load circuit (8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i).
 5. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the operational unit (2) possesses sensor keys.
 6. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the pressure keys of the operational unit (2) are especially membrane pressure keys (20, 24, 28).
 7. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the operational unit (2), the load control unit (6) and the plurality of the load circuits (8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i) are placed in a common housing, and in that the operational unit (2) is located on a forward side of the said common housing, and in that the electrical coupling apparatus (10) is provided on one of the outer sides of the said common housing.
 8. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with claim 7, therein characterized, in that the common housing is designed for installation in an instrument panel or in a door of a motor vehicle.
 9. An electronic mirror circuit in accord with one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the electric coupling apparatus (10) for the connection of the load circuits (8-1, 8-2, . . . , 8-i) to the distribution wire tree (12) is of standard plug-in construction.
 10. An outside mirror for motor vehicles, especially for commercial vehicles, possessing an electric motor driven positioning unit for the positioning of at least one mirror pane, whereby the said electric motor driven positioning unit is activated by means of a mirror circuit, therein characterized, in that the mirror circuit is an electronic mirror circuit in accord with one of the foregoing claims. 